Regional Actions Add Up to Global Solutions
We encourage you to visit the solutions section of this web feature to find out how you can take action to slow the pace of climate change and help minimize the harmful consequences described in the hot spots!
Any action to reduce or eliminate the release of heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere helps slow the rate of warming and, likely, the pace and severity of change at any given hot spot. Local sources of carbon emissions vary from region to region, suggesting that solutions are often decided at the community level. The Climate Hot Map points to regional examples of climate-friendly energy, transportation, or adaptation choices. Some regions, however, must rely upon global solutions such as international agreements to reduce the carbon overload in the atmosphere that threatens them. Small islands, for example, are a paltry source of carbon emissions and yet are disproportionately affected by the consequences of global carbon overload as accelerated sea level rise threatens the very existence of low-lying islands.
Individual, regional, and national actions can all add up to global solutions, slowing and eventually halting the upward climb of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.